The United States said Thursday that a U.S. missile-defense system under development has "limited operational capability" to protect against weapons such as the long-range missile North Korea is said to be near firing. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley underscored U.S. calls for North Korea to abandon any plans for testing the missile believed capable of reaching U.S. soil. "We're watching it very carefully and preparations are very far along," Hadley said when asked about South Korea's assessment that a launch was not imminent."So you could, from a capability standpoint, have a launch," Hadley said. "Now what they intend to do which is what a lot of people are trying to read of course we don't know. What we hope they will do is give it up and not launch." Another form of worldwide gun control, our government can have any weapon it wants, but no one else can? Sounds like gun control to me. ... http://www.cbsnews.com

The Republican-led Senate on Thursday rejected Democratic plans to start the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq as senators cast votes expected to resonate in November elections to determine control of Congress. Republicans, embracing President George W. Bush's policies in the war that has caused his approval ratings to plummet, defeated two Democratic amendments to start the withdrawal of U.S. forces. A nonbinding resolution broadly backed by Democrats that urged Bush to start withdrawing troops this year but without setting a deadline for completion failed 60-39. Six Democrats and one Republican crossed party lines on the vote. Another amendment to put into law a plan to start withdrawing combat forces immediately and complete the process by next July failed 86-13. ...http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2107267

A motorcyclist died after he was struck by lightning while riding in rush hour traffic between Denver and Boulder, police said.Witnesses reported seeing a flash of light shortly before the motorcyclist struck the center divider on U.S. 36 Wednesday, police spokesman Tim Read said.Gary Missi, 46, of Longmont was pronounced dead at the scene....http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/22/motorcycle.lightning.ap/index.html?section=cnn_us

A federal courthouse was locked down Thursday and the courtrooms sealed after officials announced a prisoner inside the building had escaped from U.S. marshals. Officials announced over intercoms that they were searching floor-by-floor for someone within the building who escaped the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. ...http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2107263

American gun owners have deluged the United Nations with tens of thousands of letters protesting a forthcoming conference that they fear will infringe on their right to bear arms and on the July 4th holiday to boot. Sri Lankan Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam, who will preside over the two-week Small Arms Review Conference beginning Monday, says the timing is a coincidence. He also insists that the delegates will talk only about the illegal possession, manufacturing and transfer of weapons. "I myself have received more than 100,000 letters from the U.S. public, saying you're having this meeting on the Fourth of July, and you will not take our guns away on that date," Mr. Kariyawasam said yesterday. "Some members of the U.S. public are totally misinformed," he added. "This conference is about illegal weapons." The United Nations estimates there are more than 600 million legal and illegal small arms and light weapons in circulation worldwide. ...http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20060622-123549-7289r.htm

A freighter carrying more than 100 passengers and crew sank in bad weather Thursday off Indonesia's Sumatra island, and 73 people were rescued, officials said. More than 40 were still missing in the accident, which occurred about 40 miles off the port of Sibolga on western Sumatra, naval spokesman Lt. Col. Jaka Sentosa told el-Shinta radio station.He said the vessel sprang a leak in bad weather.At least three foreigners were believed aboard the ship, which was heading to the island of Nias, a popular spot for surfers, Sentosa said. It was unclear whether they were among those rescued.Two navy vessels dispatched to the scene and a passing freighter rescued the 73 survivors, Sentosa said....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200596,00.html